A Hoogly Cocktail
Hello all! Maybe we all spoke too soon. The past few weeks have finally brought along some of that promised weather we have all waited so patiently for! Long may it last.
Since this trundle towards summer, I have been spending a lot more of my evenings outside. The beach here in Brighton is so close that really there is no excuse to not pop down on your bike and watch all the brave people swimming. The parks are looking so lovely as well, and it’s too easy to stray off the path at Preston and amble through the walled garden there. There is nothing I like more in these moments then to watch the sun slowly set with a gin and tonic or a mojito in hand. Unless I crack open a can, it is my own garden that beckons me for this particular fancy! A gin and tonic somehow manages to balance a crisp tartness with a summery punch, which always reminds me of the feeling this time of year brings!
It was one of these such evenings which made me start to think about how I might incorporate our tea blends into a cocktail. I know, I know, there is no way I’d try to say our tea isn’t best served warm and in a mug, but there is no reason it can’t be enjoyed in both circumstances. Embracing hygge is what we try to do here after all, and that doesn’t always means fortifying against the winter cold.
There really is no reason to use the particular teas that I used. I am sure you can use whatever Hoogly tea you love into the drinks you equally love. They are simply teas which were delicious when combined with my favourite drinks. Do give it a try! The first is a spiced orange gin and tonic. I find that spiced orange, a tea which we actually created to mimic the flavours in a mulled wine, brings out the herbal flavours in the gin, lending the drink a softer taste.
Spiced Orange Gin and Tonic:
Gin , Orange flavoured preferably, 50ml
Tonic, 100ml
Hoogly Spiced Orange Pyramid Tea Bag
There are so many lovely local gin companies that I find myself spoilt for choice, but since I am in Brighton then surely the Brighton Gin Company needs to be drunk! I always like to be heavy handed on the gin side, so I fill my glass with 50 ml of gin. I always choose a tumbler, but I know the huge glasses look fantastic in photos. I then add a spiced orange Hoogly tea bag to the gin, and leave to soak for ten minutes or so, before removing the teabag and adding ice. Afterwards, I fill it up with double the quantity of tonic, and may be a touch too little for most but I like to get the full kick from the gin!
Sparkling White Mojito:
Mint, 6 sprigs.
White Rum, 45 ml
Sugar syrup, 2 teaspoons
Soda water, to
Hoogly Sparkling White Pyramid Tea Bag
This is another great summery drink, and I’d say definitely best enjoyed lounging with a book in front and the full force of the sun behind. A Chill Out Mint would of course work wonderfully here, but to add some new and vibrant to the classic Mojito I think our Sparkling White Tea is the best! I have always been a fan of the combination of both fruit and mint, and I think the elderflower, while enhancing the flavour, is subtle enough to not overpower the flavour of the mint. This is a less citrusy drink to the lime based original, so best for those of you who prefer a fruity taste.
To make this drink, simply muddle 6 sprigs of mint in the bottom of your glass ( I know you could use a cocktail shaker, but since not everyone has one, I will use a glass) using a fork. Use as much or as little mint as you desire. Then, add 45 mls of rum and a sparkling white tea bag. Leave for 10 minutes before removing the teabag, adding ice and sugar syrup, and then topping up with soda water to taste! A delicious drink, trust me!